HOW MUCH MONEY DO I MAKE AS A FOOD BLOGGER?
** UPDATED INCOME REPORT BELOW **
One of my most asked questions is always, โHow do I MAKE MONEY as a FULL-TIME Food Blogger?โ The truth is that there are many different revenues, every month varies, and every blog is different.
The number one tip I have when it comes to MAKING MONEY as a food blogger is diversifying your income streams and START A SELF-HOSTED BLOG ASAP. It has now been 1.5 Year (OCT 2020) since I started blogging, and Iโve made FIVE FIGURES a month since December 2020!ย
In the world of social media, there are so many options to showcase your recipes. There is Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest, Facebook, Blogs, and so much more! Every social media platform has its pros and cons, but Youtube and a Self-hosted Website are your best option for making a stable income!
I remember when I first started making videos on TikTok, many friends told me not to start a blog because โno one uses it anymore,โ they told me to only concentrate on Instagram because thatโs how you โmake it.โ I am so glad I didnโt listen because my blog is my most stable income source, and I am here today to share some of my secrets, so you can start making money as a food blogger!
As an influencer, there are many sources of income,
- Brand Deals
- Merchandise
- Affiliated Links
- Live Events
- Paid Products
- Youtube Ads
- Website Ads
I knew when I started I didnโt want my Instagram page to become โad focusedโ and packed with โgiveaways,โ so I wanted to make sure I had a stable income where I can still produce quality content without the financial stress of relying on brand deals.
When it comes to making โAd money,โ the two most popular options are a self-hosted website and YouTube. When you are debating between the two options, the most critical question to ask yourself is, โWhere do I want to push my traffic?โ and โWhat is the INCENTIVE for my followers to go there?โ
If you are getting a large amount of traffic from TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., you want to ensure that you are pushing the traffic towards ONE PLATFORM. You are now probably wondering, what do you mean by driving my traffic?
Put yourself in your followerโs shoes and think, โwhat will make me want to click out of this app and go to another site?โ What are the most commonly asked questions after you post a recipe? Do your followers want longer videos, other types of content (vlogs, hauls), written recipes, or printable recipes?
After figuring out what your followers want the most, ask yourself, โhow much time do I have to dedicate to this extra task?โ and figure out which task can provide you with an income NOW.
For example, if you post recipe videos on IG or Reels, what will make someone go to your YouTube page? Are you providing a different type of content there? Are you sharing the full recipes there? If you are providing additional content, how much more time do you need to spend on that? Will this jeopardize your current content? If you canโt find an incentive, most likely, your followers wonโt go there as well.
Just because you start a blog doesnโt mean you canโt start a Youtube Channel down the road. But each platform is like another full-time job, and it takes time and energy to maintain. Whatever option you choose, you want to dedicate a minimum of 6 months before seeing results.
**I donโt recommend doing BOTH rights away because you may confuse your traffic. The last thing you want is to go viral on a video, but your audience doesnโt know where to go next. **
For me right now, my income is separated between:
- Website Ads (40%)
- Brand Deals (30%)
- Merchandise – ebook, stickers, etc. (25%)
- Affiliated Links (5%)
Since December 2020, I average around making a gross income of 17-22K per month, not including my expenses (grocery, courses, contractors pay, hosts, equipment, subscriptions, taxes, etc.). Every month is different, but it is nice that 40% of my income is coming from my website ads.ย
UPDATE (OCT 2021) – I currently make around 45-55K per month, not including my expenses.
However, since growing, my expense has now increased since I have also hired an FT employee to support me with my admin tasks (invoicing, insight gathering, etc.) that way I am able to spend more time creating content and working on my blog.
Every month is different but now 50% of my income comes from my website ads! which is why I HIGHLY recommend starting a blog.
My income @ OCT 2021 is now broken down to:
- Website Ads (50%)
- Brand Deals (35%)
- Merchandise (10%)
- Affiliated links (5%)
Having a website allows me to work with LIMITED and SELECTIVE brand deals and not compromise my websiteโs quality. I can still provide FREE recipes to my audiences while making an income to upgrade my content, website, and brand.
Suppose you are interested in starting a blog. In that case, I have a whole page dedicated to HOW TO START A BLOG that MAKES MONEY (IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR!!) with step-by-step tutorials and companies I recommend using from personal experiences.
Here is some other helpful blog post for those that want to make money as a food blogger:
- Step by step tutorial on how to start a blog that MAKES MONEY
- My journey from a 9-5 to a full-time food blogger
- All my top recommended courses, equipment, and apps for a full-time food blogger
HOW TO START A BLOG THAT MAKES MONEY (IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR)
My blog has been the most stable income by far and has helped me make FIVE FIGURES a month for the past four months!
With only SIX simple steps, I will share how I set up a blog correctly that makes MONEY.
In this blog post, you will learn how to set up a blog, what โhostsโ to use with price comparison, how to set up a domain, and more!
HOW I TRANSITIONED FROM A CORPORATE 500 9 – 5 TO FULL-TIME FOOD BLOGGER
One of my most asked questions is always, โhow did I become a full-time food-blogger?โ Believe it or not, I donโt have any background working with food. I never worked in a restaurant and never had any culinary training.
Do I regret working for corporate? What did I learn from my corporate job? Here is my 11-year journey before launching TIFFYCOOKS
Here are some courses, equipment, and apps that I purchased and subscribe to that help me make FIVE FIGURES a month as a full-time food blogger.
Let me know if you want me to post more content and tips and tricks on monetizing your food blog! I am always here to help.
As always, thank you so much for all your support; I wouldnโt be here without your constant love. I promise always to be as transparent as possible and share all my tips and tricks to help the same way you have all helped me!
Love,
Tiffy
Let me start by telling you I got completely hooked to your IG the first time I saw one of your reels, and started to save them in order to try your recipes out.
What I loved about them, is even as a non English native speaker, and not having traveled to Taiwan ( or any Asian Country) your approach to food is very similar to what I experience in my native Mexico.
We have spectacular street food, every State has itยดs own mind-blowing specialties, there is a bond between generations surrounding food, the kitchen is always the heart of our homes and we spent hours a day either eating or cooking.
I have always felt there is a strong similarity between Asian and Latin Cultures regarding family closeness, relevance of our historical cultural ancestry and the variety of our cuisine, one of the many reasons I am studying Mandarin right now.
There are similarities even in our economies, and the way that translates towards food, and the relationship with the full usage of each ingredient in the kitchen and the skills passed on from generation to generation.
Even if sometimes I can not get some ingredients here in Mexico City ( usually some sort of vegetable…bok choy for example, or red chile…the one you call something like ยจbirds eyeยจ?????) there is always room to improvise with some other that might do the trick.
Mexico , land of Chile !!!!
We have many, many, many chile options, so although it might not be exactly the same as the red ones you use, it gets as close enough as possible. ( all the sauces and spices are available…Lee Kum Kee has a wonderful market opportunity here and should consider a more decisive presence…Ha! so if you have the chance; tell them your mexican audience would love to experiment more with their products).
You do a wonderful job creating content that is easy to follow, has a quick pace and is very visual ( IG), and complete it with a more detailed version in your youtube chanel.
Personally I do not use TickTock.
I have recommended your IG to many friends who like me, are amateur home chefs, as I feel the rhythm of your pace is suited for people who love food, and feel at home in the kitchen. You will see your Latin followers will have that in common with you; the enjoyment of the mix or aromas, sauces, spices, and combinations of flavors.
Felicidades!
Congratulations!
Maybe a fusion/dish later on? A TaiMex combo?
We are very familiar with all the ingredients you use on a regular basis; so do we….with a twist.
Paola, I’m so touched by your kind words. Tiffy Cooks is truly a part of me that I a lot of effort into, and it’s amazing to hear such a beautiful reply in response. Thank you, and I’ll definitely keep your suggestions in mind.
I just found you ( you popped up on You Tube) and I have been thinking about starting a wellness/food based You Tube channel or blog and couldn’t decide where to start, direction, etc. I’ve read a lot of advice but I really appreciated your concise recommendations and how you substantiate your suggestions. I was surprised when you described your growth in only one and a half years. It gives me hope.
So i wanted to say thank you for the inspiration.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your content and starting my little journey.
All the best ๐
Faith
Hi Faith, I’m happy to hear that you’re inspired. It’s been a long, but rewarding journey, and I’m excited for you to start!
I am just getting started and so glad I ran across your blog. Great post! Very informative. Starting to build my social media presence as we speak! Thanks so much!
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Wow, this is so inspiring! Your tips on diversifying income streams and focusing on a self-hosted blog are super helpful. Thanks for sharing your journey and being so transparent!
Thanks for being so transparent about the numbers. It’s really helpful to see the breakdown of income streams beyond just ad revenue. This gives me a much more realistic picture of what it takes to turn a passion into a sustainable career.
Thanks for being so transparent about the numbers. It’s really helpful to see the breakdown of income streams beyond just ad revenue, especially the importance of brand partnerships. This gives me a much more realistic picture as I consider growing my own small cooking page.
Thanks for being so transparent about the numbers. It’s really helpful to see the breakdown of income streams beyond just ad revenue. This gives me a much more realistic picture of what it takes to turn a passion into a sustainable business.
Thanks for being so transparent about the numbers. It’s really helpful to see the breakdown of income streams, especially how affiliate marketing compares to brand deals. This gives me a much clearer picture as I think about growing my own small recipe page.
The detail about friends saying ‘no one uses blogs anymore’ really stood out. it’s such a common pressure, and I love how you trusted your own instincts instead.